Dear Western Michigan CPCU Chapter Members –
Welcome to 2019 – a new year full of opportunities for greatness!
As we discussed at our January meeting, our industry is evolving at a rapid pace. Gone are the days of static operating procedures and relying on products and processes that have worked in the past. As leaders in our industry, each of us must embrace our role as innovators, become champions of technology, and encourage experimentation with new products and new methods to meet the needs of customers and remain competitive.
Our Chapter Board is dedicated to providing resources and education to support you in this ever changing insurance landscape. One of the best ways we can accomplish this is by providing meaningful speakers at our monthly meetings.
Some of the topics we’ve committed to for 2019 are:
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Ethics and Business
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Hazardous Household Waste – Implications and Options
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Legalization of Marijuana – Business Insurance Coverage Considerations
We’re also planning events in addition to our regular lunch meetings to encourage networking and the exchange of ideas. If you have suggestions or would like to help organize these events, please reach out to any Board member. Trivia nights, bowling outings – we’re open to any and all suggestions! These events will be scheduled in both Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids to involve as many of our members as possible.
Another focus for 2019 is chapter financial health. At our chapter meeting in February, the Board reviewed our 2019 budget as well as financial results from the past two years. In 2017 and 2018, our chapter incurred additional expenses related to sending leaders to Society events and hosting our monthly luncheon meetings. These additional unbudgeted expenses depleted our savings which prompted us to look at making changes this year to replenish our savings account.
The first change we made is to eliminate chapter leader travel for at least this year. While attending the annual Leadership Summit and Annual Meeting are valuable experiences, rebuilding our savings takes precedence. The next change we are considering is updating our lunch meeting. You will receive a survey regarding this over the next several days. We round tabled options with the members who attended our February meeting and put together several options to update our meetings to eliminate unplanned expenses. Please take time to provide your feedback and ideas when you see the survey. We need everyone’s best thinking to make our chapter the best it can be!
Finally, I would like to encourage everyone to start making plans for our Annual Golf Outing. We’re scheduling the event for June 18th, and are looking for assistance with donations, sponsorship and organizing the event itself. Please reach out to myself or Beau Barnum to find out how to get involved.
Thank you for your dedication to being a leader in our industry, and for your dedication to our chapter.
Here’s to a successful 2019 for us all!
Christine Hughes, CPCU AIC AINS API